JPH03172765A - Sampling device and method for automatic analysis apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To analyze samples of different liquid level heights without changing the max. descending amt. of a sample nozzle by generating the output of a fault detector when the sample nozzle is within an abnormal region. CONSTITUTION:Pulse signals are sent to a vertically moving motor 19 and the sample nozzle 5 starts descending when a start signal is inputted to a CPU 41. The number of pulses corresponding to the length of the 1st abnormal region 29 is set simultaneously in a register 43. This number and the number of the pulses sent to the motor 19 and counted by a pulse counter 43 are compared by a comparator 44. The CPU 41 closes a switch 45 to receive the signal of the fault detector 35 until both coincide. The CPU 41 sends the numerical value corresponding to the sum of the abnormal region 29 and the 1st normal region 32 to the register 43 to alternate the contents thereof and to hold the switch 45 opened to the next coincidence signal of the comparator 44 when the comparator 44 generates the coincidence signal of the counter 42 and the register 43. The signal from the fault detector 35 is thus shut off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic biochemical analyzer, and in particular to sampling of an automatic analyzer suitable for smoothly collecting samples for analysis from various sample containers of different shapes. Related to equipment.

[Prior Art] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the entire conventional automatic analyzer. A sample rack 1 accommodating a plurality of sample containers set in a rack sampler 7 sequentially moves on a line sampler 8 and stops at a sampling position of a sampling mechanism 9.

The sampling mechanism 9 is placed in a predetermined reaction container 11 on the reaction table 1o.

A predetermined amount of the sample in the sampling rack 1 is dispensed.

By rotating the reaction table 10, each reaction container 11 is transferred to a predetermined position.

Reagents corresponding to each analysis item are dispensed into each sample in each of the sample racks from the first reagent nozzle 12 and second reagent nozzle 13 placed at predetermined addition positions determined based on the analysis method. . Next, the reaction vessel 11 is stirred by the stirring mechanism 17, and each analysis item is measured by the spectrometer 15. The temperature of each sample is kept constant by the constant temperature bath 17.

The 81+1 constant result is subjected to logarithmic conversion and analog/digital conversion, and then comprehensively processed by a computer.

After the measurement is completed, the reaction vessel 11 is cleaned by the cleaning mechanism 16 and used again for analysis.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of the sampling mechanism 9. The sampling nozzle 5 attached to the tip of the sampling arm 21 aspirates the sample from a predetermined sample container 3 in the sample rack 1, and then
The sample is transferred to the reaction container 11 by rotating the .

The sampling arm 21 is driven by the rotation motor 18 to rotate around the transmission shaft 20, and its rotation angle is detected by a detection plate 23 and a detector 24 attached to the transmission shaft 20. Also, the sampling arm 21 is moved #! by the vertical movement motor 19. l+ and move up and down at the positions of the sample container 3 and reaction container 11.

A liquid level sensor 25 is attached to the tip of the sampling arm 21, which detects the liquid level in the sample container.
The vertical movement motor 19 is stopped.

Further, a failure detector 35 is installed at the tip of the sampling arm 21, and is configured to stop the descending of the sampling nozzle 5 if it hits the bottom or edge of the sample container, for example. Since the sampling nozzle 5 is elastically attached to the sampling arm, the amount of protrusion of the sampling nozzle 5 from the sampling arm 21 is detected by a failure detector 35 consisting of an optical sensor or the like to detect the above-mentioned hitting the bottom or the edge. It is possible.

The sampling nozzle 5 that has finished injecting the sample into the reaction vessel 11 is cleaned by the nozzle cleaning tank 26 and used again.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the conventional sample rack 1. As shown in FIG. Sample containers of various shapes are installed in various ways.

FIG. 4(A) shows a case where a test tube 4 is placed on the sample rack 1 and a sample container 3 containing a sample 6 is placed above it, and FIG. (C) shows a case where a test tube 4 containing a sample 6 is installed on the sample rack 1.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional automatic analyzer, the sample nozzle 5
If, for example, the failure detector 35 malfunctions and issues an alarm during the descent of the automatic analyzer, the operation of the automatic analyzer stops, and after confirming the malfunction, it is necessary to return to the initial procedure and start over. That is, the sample nozzle 5 was cleaned and the sample was injected again. For this reason, there is a problem that not only time is wasted but also valuable samples are wasted.

Furthermore, in order to reduce the probability of occurrence of the above-mentioned malfunction, in the conventional device, the maximum descending amount of the sample ring nozzle 5 is limited depending on the type of sample container 3 in the sample rack 1, that is, the position of the bottom of the sample container. I was doing it. This is because if it is allowed to descend unnecessarily, the probability of the above-mentioned malfunction increases. However, as a result of this, it is necessary to switch the maximum descending amount for each different sample container using, for example, a mode switch, which causes problems such as complicated operations and erroneous operations. For this reason, in practice, only sample containers of the same model are inserted into one sample rack to suppress the number of times of switching.

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is necessary to set the maximum amount of descent of the sampling nozzle each time depending on the type of sample container, which is complicated to operate, and there is a risk of damaging the sampling nozzle due to incorrect operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sampling method for an automatic analyzer that can analyze samples having different liquid level heights without changing the maximum descending amount of the sampling nozzle 5.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores at least the entire attendance stroke of the sampling nozzle divided into a normal area and an abnormal area, and the sampling nozzle is stored in a normal area and an abnormal area. When the fault detector is present in the fault detector, the output of the fault detector is generated.

Further, the normal region is a sample existing region expected in the sample container, and the abnormal region is a portion other than the sample existing region.

[Operation] The automatic analyzer and method of the present invention configured as described above suspends the failure detection operation in the area where the sample is expected to exist in the sample container, that is, within the normal area.

Furthermore, the width of the normal region is set within a range that will not cause damage even if the sampling nozzle hits the sample container at the bottom.

[Example 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sampling method for an automatic analyzer according to the present invention.

In Figure 1, as in Figure 4, (A), (B), (C
) Three types of sample containers are shown.

100 represents a virtual scale stored in a control device such as a computer. 30 within the virtual scale 100.
21.32 etc. are test tube 4゜sample container 31.3 respectively.
The range from the expected sample liquid level to the bottom of the sample container is shown in FIG. 2 and is referred to as the normal region. 27.
28, 29, etc. indicate areas other than the above-mentioned 30 to 32, and these will be referred to as the above areas. The entire range from 27 to 32 mentioned above is the movable range of the sampling nozzle 5.

The sampling nozzle 5 descends without being specified by the mode switch to the maximum descending amount corresponding to the type of sample container, and when it reaches the first normal region 32, it detects the liquid level, and if there is a liquid level, it stops there, and no If so, the next normal area 3
Descend to 1 and repeat the same operation. The same applies to the normal region 30.

In the conventional device, the mode switch determines the maximum descending amount for each type of sample container, so for example, when extracting a sample from the sample container 32 in FIG. Leni had to go to the bottom side.

However, if you omit the mode switch above, for example,
When the amount of sample in the sample container is extremely small, there is an inconvenience that the failure detector 35 detects the bottom of the sample container and stops the descent before the liquid level sensor 25 detects the liquid level. Occur.

Therefore, in the present invention, the operation of the failure detector 35 is stopped within the normal areas 30 to 31. During this time, it becomes impossible to detect whether the sampling nozzle 5 hits the bottom, so there is a risk of lowering it too much and damaging it. But once you reach the next abnormal area.

Since the fault detector 35 begins to operate, the vehicle will not continue descending into the next fault area while remaining at the bottom. At this time, the upper edge position of the next abnormal area is set to a position that will not damage the sampling nozzle 5. Since the sampling nozzle 5 is normally attached elastically, it will not be damaged even if it is pushed down a little after hitting the bottom as described above.

If there is no sample in the sample container, the fault detector 35 will generate an alarm at the upper edge of the next abnormal area, and the sampling nozzle 5 will stop at that position.

If there is no sample container in the normal area, the sampling nozzle 5 has not touched the bottom, so even if it enters the first abnormal area, the fault detector 35 will not issue an alarm, and the sample will continue to pass through the abnormal area and proceed to the next one. enters the normal region and repeats the above operations.

To summarize the above operation, in the present invention, an abnormality is detected in the abnormal area as in the conventional device, but the failure detector 35 does not work in the normal area, but if there is an abnormality, the sampling nozzle 5 is not damaged. It follows that the descent can be stopped within that range. In the conventional apparatus, a mode switch was provided to perform the same operation as the present invention, and the maximum descending amount was set each time according to the height of the sample container. According to the present invention, the mode switch described above can be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment for realizing the operation of the present invention described above. In the figure, common-sense elements such as the analog-to-digital converter for the liquid level sensor 25 and the drive circuit for the vertical motion motor 19, which is a pulse motor, are omitted to make the signal flow clear.

When a start signal is input to the CPU 41, which is a control device,
A pulse signal is sent to the vertical movement motor (pulse motor) 19, and the sampling nozzle 5 starts to descend. At the same time, the register 43 is set with the number of pulses corresponding to the length of the first abnormal area 29 shown in FIG. 44, and until the two match, the switch 45 is closed and the CPU 31 accepts the signal from the fault detector 35. Further, the signal from the liquid level sensor 25 is always reflected.

When the comparator 44 generates a match signal between the outputs of the counter 42 and the register 43, the CPU 41 sends a numerical value corresponding to the sum of the first abnormal area 29 and the first normal area 32 in FIG. 1 to the register 43 and its contents. , the switch 45 is opened until the next matching signal from the comparator 44, and the signal from the fault detector 35 is cut off.

Furthermore, due to the next match a of the comparator 44, the register 4
The contents of 3 are divided into abnormal area 29, normal area 32, and abnormal area 28.
, and the switch 45 is closed.

Thereafter, similar operations are repeated for each number of areas.

When the liquid level sensor 25 generates a liquid level detection signal, the CPU 41 stops the vertical movement motor and performs control to extract the sample, and then returns to the above operation again, and when the switch 45 is closed. , When the fault detector 35 generates a fault detection signal, the vertical movement motor is stopped and an alarm is generated as necessary.

Note that the counter 42, register 43, comparator 45, switch 45, etc. in FIG. 5 can be incorporated into the CPU 41.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, by applying the present invention, the mode switch in the conventional device can be omitted, thereby preventing damage to the sampling nozzle and other parts due to incorrect operation or malfunction of the mode switch, and damage to the sample. Waste etc. can be prevented.

At the same time, analysis can be performed automatically regardless of the type of sample container.

Furthermore, damage to the sampling nozzle can be prevented in the event that the sampling nozzle hits an obstacle or hits the bottom of the sample container.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the descending area division of the sampling nozzle introduced by the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the entire conventional automatic analyzer, and Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the descending area division of the sampling nozzle introduced by the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sampling mechanism of the analyzer, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of various containers for personal use, and FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the present invention. 1...sample rack, 3...sample container, 4...
Test tube, 5... Sample ring nozzle, 7... Rack sampler, 8... Line sampler, 9... Sampling mechanism, 1o... Reaction table, 11... Reaction container, 12... No. 1 reagent nozzle, 13... second reagent nozzle, 14... stirring mechanism, 15... spectrometer, 16.
...Cleaning mechanism, 17... Constant temperature bath, 18... Rotation motor, 19... Vertical movement motor, 20... Transmission shaft, 21
...Sampling arm, 22...Sensor arm,
23... Detection plate, 24... Detector, 25... Liquid level sensor, 26... Nozzle cleaning tank, 27... Abnormal area, 30... Normal area, 35... Fault detection Vessel, 41・
...CPU, 42...Counter, 43...Register, 44...Comparator, 45...Switch, 100...
・Virtual scale. Figure 4 Figure 4 (・~) (Bl (C) Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of sample containers are sequentially transported, a sampling nozzle is used to inject the sample in the sample container into a reaction container for analysis, and a liquid level sensor is used to detect the sample in the sample container. An automatic analyzer that detects a liquid level and detects an obstacle to the sampling nozzle using an obstacle detector, at least a storage device that stores the movement stroke of the sampling nozzle divided into a normal region and an abnormal region; A movement amount detector that detects the movement amount of the sampling nozzle, a comparison circuit, and a failure output control circuit that controls the output of the failure detector, and the comparison circuit detects the output of the regulation device and the sampling nozzle. A sampling device for an automatic analyzer, characterized in that the fault output control circuit is controlled by a signal obtained by comparing the amount of movement of the . 2. A sampling device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the normal region is a sample existing region expected in the sample container, and the abnormal region is a portion other than the sample existing region. 3. The automatic analysis according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the fault output control circuit is controlled by the comparator so that the output signal of the fault detector is output within the abnormal region. Equipment sampling device. 4. Sequentially transporting a plurality of sample containers, using a sampling nozzle to strike the sample in the sample container into a reaction container for analysis, and detecting the liquid level of the sample in the sample container using a liquid level sensor; In an automatic analysis method for detecting an obstacle on the sampling nozzle using an obstacle detector, at least the movement stroke of the sampling nozzle is divided into a normal region and an abnormal region and stored, and the amount of movement of the sampling nozzle is divided into the normal region and the abnormal region. A sampling method for an automatic analyzer, characterized in that the output of the failure detector is controlled based on the comparison result by comparing the area and the abnormal area. 5. A sampling device for an automatic analyzer according to claim 4, wherein the normal region is a sample existing region expected in the sample container, and the abnormal region is a portion other than the sample existing region. 6. A sampling method for an automatic analyzer according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the output signal of the fault detector is output within the abnormal region.